Sheet-feeding mechanism.



N. ANDERSGK SHEET FEEDING mmmmsm.

APPLIUATIDN FILED MAY 13. 1913. RENEWED EAR 23, 1914.

7 SHEET ii; ANDERSQN. SHEET FEEDING MEGEAHISM. APPLIOATION FILBD MAY 13. 1912. RENEWED HAIL. 23, 1914.

N. ANDERSON. SHEET FEEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1912. REXJEWE'D MAR. 23, 1914.

l iafxambed 9%.213 1 29M.

1 p 1 1 5 9 1 o l I SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N. ANDERSON.

SHEET FEEDING MIEIGHAIIISMa AFPLIOATION FILED MAY 13. 1912. RENEWED MAR. 22, 1914.

j 1 4 15$}, Patented 6%.27, 1914i.

7 SHEETSSHEBT l.

N'. ANDERSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

-APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13. 1912. RENEWED MAR. 23, 1914.

1, 1 1 5, 1 52, Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

7 SHBETSSHEET 5 N. ANDERSON. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13. 1912. RENEWED MAR. 23, 1914.

15,15, Patented Oct. 27, .1914. A 7 SHEETS-SHE ET 5.

N. ANDERSON.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13 1912. RENEWED MAR. 23, 1914.

1,1 15,152. Patented 001;. 27, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7A "NIELS ANDERSON,

TEE EAR/RIF AU'TGMATXC PRESS COMPANY,

OHIO.

Application filed- 3- ay 13, 1912, Serial No. 696,920. Renewed March 23, 191

To all whom it may concern Be it known-that I, NELS ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofthe city of Chicago, in the county of Cool: and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Feeding Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare that the following is adull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numbers of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Considerable diiiiculty has heretofore been experienced in feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheets. ihis is occasioned in part by surface friction, and in part, perhaps mainly, by the air between the sheets, which seems to produce more or less suction as one sheet is moved, tending to move the next adjacent sheet or sheets therewith. in feeding sheets from a stack also, as, for in stance, in feeding printing presses, it is important to feed the stack upwardly as the sheets are removed, thus maintaining a. substantially constant height for the top of the stack, so that the sheets as removed, will feed true into the receiving machine.

It IS an ob3ect of this invention to aflord I a sheet feedingmechanism whereby the upper sheet of a stack of sheets, may at all times be supported at proper feeding position, and to afford in connection therewith mechanism for progressively elevating the stack as the sheets are Withdrawn.

it is also an object of the invention to atford mechanism for varying the rate of adjustment oi? the stack to suit the thickness or the sheets to be fed t'nerefrom and to afford also mechanism permitting manual adjustment in first elevating the top of the stack to feeding position, or in droppingthe sup port for the stack preliminary to receiving another stack thereon.

The invention has also for its object a novel mechanism for feeding the sheets one by one from the top of the stack into the re ceiring machine, and for so adjusting the next succeeding lower sheets to position the same for engagement and withdrawa when at the top of the stack or pack.

The invention in a preferred form, is illus trated in the drawings, and hereinatter more fully described. 4

In the drawings: Figure 1 is end elevation or a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 1S top lan view thereoi. is

OF G'HZKCAGQ, 11541310178, AfSSIGNOR,

Specification of Letters LPatent.

' rotative feeders.

BY MESNE ASSIGNNIENTS, .90

0F NILES, OHIO, A CDRPORATION 0E $EFIE'F-FEEDZNG MEC HALNISM.

Patented bet. at, 11am.

Serial No. 826,?49.

a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary face view of a part of the feed adjusting mechanism. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section of one of the Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. '8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9--9 of Fig. 2. Fig. lOis a. section on line 10-40 of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is an enlarged section on line 1l11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 12 is an enlarged section on line 12 12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an en larged section on line 13-13 of Fig. 3, broken away. Fig. 14% is a fragmentary section on line i4c1 i of Fig. 3; with the guides in elevation. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section on line 15-15 of Fig. 9. Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 1616 of Fig. 9. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary section on line IVY-17 of Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a fragmentary line 18-18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a part of the tripping mechanism, taken on line 19-19 of Fig. 17, with parts omitted. Fig. 20 is a fragmentary section on line 20- 20 ofFig. 2.

As shown in the drawings; Although not necessarily so, the machine is constructed of a separate and independent frame adapting the same to be positioned suitably with reference to a machine as, for instance, a

printing press to which the sheets are to be.

fed. Said frame comprises end framememhers 1, arranged in parallel relation and suitably secured together to afford rigidity. For this purpose, a transverse bolt or bar Zextending through both said frame members at the top thereof, and parallel lower guide bars or lower frame bars 3 and 4, are secured near the bottom of said frame members in the same horizontal plane and serve both to rigidly connect said end frame members 1, and also serve as guides and sup porting means for a part of the mechanism hereinafter more fully described.

Journaled at the top and near the front end of the frame so formed, is a main shaft 5, provided on one of its outer ends with a driving belt pulley 6. A short shaft 7, is journaled at the othe end of the frame in suitable hearings in the parallel arms 0. a'yoked bracket member 8, which is bolted on the end "frame member. parallel with the main shaft- 5, and rigidly secured thereon between the arms o'f said Said shaft is' section taken on Edd bracket is a bevel gear wheel 9, the periphery of which is provided with closely arranged ratchet teeth directed toward the front of the machine.

A shaft 10, is journaled parallel the adjacent side frame member in the front and rear arms of the bracket, as shown in Fig. 10, and threaded on said shaft is a sleeve 11, provided with a bevel pinion 9, at one end, which meshes with the bevel gear 9, and provided with a worm 12, at the other.- As shown, a jam nut 13, is provided on said shaft to rigidly secure the same from movement thereon. Said shaft is centeredat'its forward end on a suitable bearing block 14, and a set screw 15, extends through the rear bracket arm, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, to permit adjustment of said shaft.

Journaled on a stud shaft 16, and meshing with the worm 12, is a wormgear 17 Said worm gear 17, is rigidly secured on a shaft 18, journaled in the frame members 1,- and extends transversely the machine, as shown machine, and meshes with a with reference to the shaft 21.

in Fig. 2, and also rigidly secured on said she '1; between the same and the adjacent end frame member, is a gear wheel 19, which meshes with a gear wheel 20, secured on a shaft 21, journaied in the end frame mem her. A. corresponding gear whel 22, is secured on the opposite end of the shaft 18, or, in other words, at the driving side of the gear wheel 23, corresponding with the gear fore described, and likewise secured on a shaft journaled in the frame, as described Secured on the inner end of each of the shafts, at each side of the machine, and also on the shaft 18, adjacent the'inner side of each of the frame plates, and also in line with those on the shafts, are sprocket wheels 24 and 25, over and engaging which is trained a sprocket chain 26, at each side of the machine, the ends of which in each instance'are secured upon an upwardly movable platform or table 27, adapted to carry the stock indicated by X.

Mechanism is bevel gear wheel provided for actuating the 9, from the main shaft 5,

to afford a rate of upward feed of the stock to correspond with the rate of withdrawal from the sheets at the top of the stack. For this purpose, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a collar 28, is rigidly keyed on the outer end of the shaft 5,'and is peripherally threaded to receive thereon an inwardly flanged retaining ring 29, and a retaining plate or washer 30, is seated in a suitable recess in the collar concentric with the shaft and engaged in place thereonv by a cap screw 31, extending through said plate and into the axis of said shaft. 1

Secured within the flange of the retaining ring 29, is a circular and graduated dial plate 32, having an inwardly beveled aperblock wheel 20, be-

if the adjustn'ient at the ture therein eccentric thereof, and a seated within said aperture and of a greater thickness than the dial plate 32, is an adjustable. eccentric block 38, which is tapered complementally with the aperture in the dial plate, so that, when in place, the same fits therein substantially flush on the outer side, but theinner face thereof projects inwardly beyond the dial plate to bear against the face of the collar, and the wear plate or washer 30.

Secured at the periphery of the eccentric is an indicator 3st, and journaled upon a suitable cap screw or bolt 35, set eccentrically in the eccentric block 33, is a gravity pawl 36, the end of which rests upon the ratchet toothed periphery of the bevel gear 9, so that, as the shaft 5, rotates, said bevel gear is rotated by means of said pawl a distance equal to the throw afforded by the eccentricity of the journal for said pawl ovith said shaft 5. It is evident that a double adjustment is aii'orded by the eccentricity of the eccentric block in the dial plate, and the eccentricity of the bearing for the pawl in the eccentric block. This enables a very fine adjustment to be effected, adapting the stack elevatmg mechanism to be adjusted for any thickness of paper or sheets. Of course, when ad usted, the flanged clumping ring 29, is set up,

-ja11uniug the dial plate and eccentric block firmly uponthe collar.

The arrangement of the driving train is obvious from the description The bevel gear drives the bevel. pinion 9 which in turn, and bythc medium of the worm gear 17, drives the shaft 18. This rotating of the intermeshing gears 19 and 20, and 22 and 23, oppositely, causes, of course, the opposite rotation of the corresponding sprocket wheels, so that the stack X, supported upon the table, is elevated slowly and step by step thereby, this movement, because ofthe adjustment before described, being at a rate to compensate for the thickness of the sheets so Withdrawn; so that the top of the stack is maintained at all times at substantially proper feeding height.

Means are provided also for limiting'the elevation of the stack to correspond with the rate of withdrawal of the sheets, so that end of the shaft 5, be not quite accurate, the machine will automatically adjust itself to the required upward feed. For this purpose, a shaft 37, is journaled on the frame plates extending transversely the machine, and above the stack of sheets. Rigidly secured thereon is an arm 38, having journaled thereon a roller 39, which bears upon the top of the stack as shown in Figs. 2 and 18. The end of said shaft extends through the frame plate 1, adjacent the ratchet driving connections, and rigidly secured thereon is a crank arm 40, which extends rearwardly and horizon- Jfiiiger or extension-ll,

, the bevel gear feeding mechanism,

also provided at each minute along the outer side of the frame plate and at its extremity is provided with a extending at right angles therewith, as shown in Fig. 17, and closely adjacent to the ratcheted periphery of before described, and beyond the same.

Rigidly secured upon the bracket arm 8, on which the shaft 7, is journaled, is a plate 42, and supported thereon and normally resting on the top thereof, is a segment shaped ratchet bar 4d, the periphery of which is curved to correspond substantially with the ratchet toothed periphery of the bevel gear '9. Toggle bars 45 and 46, connect said segment shaped ratchet bar with the plate or .bar 42, as shown in Fig. 16, and the lower extremity of the toggle bar 46, extends outwardly and rearwardly he-' yond its bearing connection therewith and afiords a support for therfinger 41, on said crank, the construction being such that wlien the roller 39, is raised. by the stack rising above its proper level, the shaft 37, is rotated, throwing the finger ll, downwardly and thereby acting on the toggle bar l6, as

a lever to throw the ratchet segment up-' wardly thereby suliiciently for one of its teeth to be engaged by the pawl 36. The forward movement to swing said segment bar upwardly and rearwardly on the links or toggle bars, lifting the pawl thereby clear of the ratchet teeth on said bevel gear, stopping the upward feed of the table. lhc feed mechanism for the stool; table is thus held out of operation until sufficient number of sheets have been removed from the top by the sheet to permit the ratchet segment falling sufiiciently low to be cleared by the pawl when the stock feed is resumed as before. As shown also a disk 47, is secured on the shaft 7, adjacent a hand wheel id, at the extremity of the shaft. Sa-i dislr'is provided with apertures therein to receive a pin 49, slidably engaged through the hand wheel, as shown in Fig. Er, so thatwhen it is desirrd to adjust the stack table upwardly to begin the feeding operation, the feed table may be elevated by hand by rotating the shaft 7, by said hand wheel. When it is desired to place more sheets on the table, the shaft may be reversed by said hand wheel, the pawl then being supported out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, thereby enabling the table to be lowered to leading position. As shown, a plate of metal or other suitable material 50, is secured across the front of the'frame and the front edges of the sheets in the stack abut thereagainst, as shown in Fig. 3. lhe upper edge of said sheet or plate is flanged outwardly to aiford an inclined guide 51, over which the sheets are fed. Guides are of the pawl then serves end of the stock table" adapted to be adjusted to lit loosely against the ends of the stack of paper on said table. l? or this purpose, the table is longitudinally slotted from its ends inwardly to near its middle.

A shaft 52, jo-urnaled near the bottom of said end frame plates, and provided at its outer end with a hand wheel 53, for manual actuation, is right and left threaded respectively at its opposite ends, and carriages 54: and 55, provided with sleeved ends, are slidably engaged on each of the bars 3 and 4:, which engage through said sleeves 55 and 56, at opposite ends of said carriages. Each of the carriages is provided with an integral (or other suitable) nut threaded complementally with the corresponding ends of the shaft 52, as shown in Fig. 14, so that rota tion of said shaft 52, in one direction, by means of its hand carriages inwardly, while opposite rotation of the shaft 52, moves the same outwardly.

Upwardly extending, parallel guides 57, 58 and 59, secured on said carriages, as shown in Figs. 2 and 14, are of a length to extend to the top of the stack when in feeding position and bear lightly against the ends of the stack, as shown in Fig. 9, to guide the sheets as-fed from the pack.

Parallel, horizontal ways 60, are provided at opposite sides of the machine, and. facing inwardly slightly above the pack when no feeding position. Said ways are each provided with a 'V shaped groove in a familiar manner, to receive therein the l! shaped ribs 61, of the sliding members. Said sliding members are rigidly connected by means of a shaft 63, right and left threaded at the opposite ends, as shown in Fig. 13, by rotation of which in one direction said members may be jammed in the ways, and by rotation in the other may be released therein sufficient for adjustment. ll. collar 64, is provided at each end of said shaft to bear against said head, and is provided with a set screw 65, to hold the same in adjusted osition. lf desired, said collars may also e threaded on the corresponding end of the shaft and may also be threaded thereon to act asjam nuts to hold the same in adjusted position.

Slidably engaged in one of theheads, and threaded in the other, is a shaft or rod 66, parallel with the shaft 63, and adjustably supported upon said shafts (which extend through suitable apertures therein) are adjustable blocks 67, each provided with a clamping screw 68, as shown in Figs. 11 and 13, to rigidly engage said blocks on'the shaft in adjusted position. A downwardly and forwardly inclined face 69, is provided on each of said blocks at its forward end and an upwardly and forwardly directed shoulder 70, behind the same, affording a stop.

I Rigidity secured therein upon a pin 7 1, are

wheel 53, moves said thepstack,

spacing blocks 72, 73, and 74, and an upper clamping plate 75, between each pair of which are secured forwardly and downwardly inclined spring detents 76, 77 and 78, respectively, the free ends of which are curved upwardly, as shown in Fig. 8. Said spring detent plate 76, is relatively short, and the succeeding upper spring detent plates 77 and 7 8, are each successively longer, so that as the sheets are fed from the top of each of said spring detent plates engages on a. separate sheet to hold the upper sheets of the stack slightly offset as the topmost sheet is fed therefrom.

The sheet advancing and feeding mechanism comprises collars or disks 80, adj ustably securedon the main shaft 5,, by means of a key 81, against which bears a set screw 82, threaded radially in the collar and provided at its outer end with a milled head 83, for actuation, and, as shown also, grooved thereinto receive a pin or set screw 84, to limit the adjustment of the set screw, so that when the set screw is adjusted in one posi tion, pressure upon the key is released, permitting the collar to he slid down the shaft, and when rotated in the other the collar is rigidly secured upon the shaft.

'Slidably engaged in a radial recess in the collar diametrically opposite from said setscrew, and also at 90 degrees therefrom, are rectangular stems 85, each provided with a rounded or semi-cylinclric head 86. A pin 87 seated in the face of the collar, lies within a notch in each stem and acts to hold the same in place, and a spring 88, seated in the bottom of the recess, bears against the lower end of the stem to hold said heads outwardly, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. 1

Seated in a complemental semi-circular recess therefor at the other quarter of said collar, is an annular rubber or other suitable friction member 89. This, as shown, is a short cylinder of relatively soft rubber, having an axial aperture therethrough and adapted to press for its entire length upon the top of the pack in feeding. Cover plates 90, are secured on opposite sides of the collar and act toengage all of said members'in place therein. I

As the sheets are fed fromthe stack, are engaged by feed rolls and delivered into the printing (or other) machine to which they are to be delivered. For this urpose, the mainfeed roll 91, is journaled orizontally on the front of the frame just beneath the outer edge of the inclined flange or plate 51, 'over which the sheets are delivered, and

a bout said rollers are engaged carrier belts 92, which are trained about the corresponding roll on the receiving machine, which, of course, is not shown, as the receiving machine forms no part of this invention.

As shown, a, gear wheel 93, is rigidly secured on the main'shaft 5, adjacentthe belt they pulley and meshes with a pinion o r s-maller gear wheel 94, secured on the end 0 said feed roll 91, to rot-ate the same. A shaft 95, is jo-urnaled on the frame at a point above, the roll 91, as shown in Figs. 1 secured thereon are forwardly projecting brackets 96, journaled in each of which is an idle roll 97, one for each of the carrier belts 92, and tracking thereon so that as the edge of the sheet is advanced by the feeder to said feed rolls, the same is engaged thereby and drawn from the stack and delivered on said feed belts or carriers to the receiving machine.

The operation is as follows: The stack elevating table 27, slides vertically between the end frame members 1, to be guided therebetween, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by the arms 98,.two of which are shown at each [end of the table and bear against the end frame member between ribs 99, integral with the frame. The elevating sprocket chains 26, are engaged in suitable eyes or hooks 100, secured on said arms. A stack of sheets is placed centrally onthe table, with the front edges abutting against the front plate 50, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the guide arms 57, 58, and 59, are adjusted by means of the hand wheel 53, to bear lightly against the ends of the stack, centralizing the stack upon the table. The blocks 67, are then adjusted 111p to. the rear edge of-the stack, as shown in igs. 2 ,plished by moving the carriage for said blocks forwardly in the guideways therefor, and rigidly securing the same in place. The rotative feeders 80, are then adjusted on the main shaft 5, as before described, the set screw 83, being retracted sufficiently to permit said feeders to he slid on the shaft to the desired position, as shown in Fig. 2, so as-to pull evenly andequally upon the top sheets of the stack. The stack table is then adjusted by means of the hand wheel 48, to bring the stack-to proper feeding height. For this purpose, a pawl 36, is lifted from the ratchetcd periphery of the bevel gear wheel 9, and the clutch pin 49, is engaged in the disk 47, thereby permitting the table to be adjusted either upwardly or downwardly, as desired, and the desired'adjustment having been effected, the clutch pin 49, is retracted from said disk, as shown in Fig.9. The throw of the pawl is next adjusted to afford the desired elevation for the stack elevating table with the removal of each sheet I from the stack. For this pur ose, the clamping ring 29, is retracted sufficiently to relieve the pressure on the dial plate 32, this permitting the eccentric block 33, to be rotated therein to adjust the bearing for the detent 36, either toward or from the axis of the shaft, thereby varying the throw of said pawl either to afford a shorter or :1 Ion er stroke, dependent ofcourse, upon the ra ial and 2, and

and 3, this adjustment being accomaria,

distance of the bearing for said detent from the axis of the shaft thin sheets re uirin a 7 b J less radial distance than thicker sheets. On: course, the carrier belts 92, and the idle rollers 97 are suitably adjusted along the main feeding roll 91, and on the shaft 95, to suitably engage the sheets as fed from the stack, so as to exert an even pull thereon. The machine now being started in operation, rotation of the main shaft 5, by means of c. nelt applied to the driving pulley 6, or any ther suitable means, rotates the rotary feeders on the surface of the top sheet, the metallic or other rounded or semi-cylindric spring impelled heads 86, serving to press the top sheet downwardly, and tending drew the same forwardly and acting by the succession ofimpulses afforded thereby, to compress the sheets together at the point of impact, the sheets, in consequence, bending upwardly at the rear oi: such point of contact, thus each of said rounded spring iinpelled heads assisting in separating the sheets and on account of the upward springing or bending of the sheets at the rear of each oii said heads and in advance thereof, assisting' in introducing air beneath the sheets and to overcome the surface adhesion 0 sheets. The resilient friction member 89, carried on each of said feeders, next engages the sheet and draws the same upwardly from beneath the spring dctents, advancing the same to the feed rolls whence the sheet is drawn from the machine and delivered to the receiving machine. The rotation of the main shaft has imparted an inn ulse through the medium of the pawl'36, to t e bevel gear, thereby driving the train before described,- and rotating the sprocket wheels 2d and 25, at each end of the machine oppositely, thereby adjusting the stack elevating table upwardly to correspond with the thickness of the sheet removed. T he forward movement of the upper sheet serves to offset the next succeeding sheets, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8, so that the spring detents 78, T7 and 7 6, bear respectively on the top sheet and the next succeeding sheets of the stack, exerting; suflicient pressure thereon, together with the surface friction of the sheets beneath the same, to prevent more than the top sheet being drawn from the stack with each rotation of the shaft 5.

Usually, the throw of the pawl is adjusted to just sufficient, or'a little more, than suiiicient to elevate the stack proportionately with the withdrawal oi: sheets. If adjusted to elevate the stack more rapidly than to compensate for the thickness of the sheet, a very sensitive control is aiiorded to limit such elevation to thercquired amount and no more. Shouidthe stack riseeven very slightly above proper feeding" position, the shaft 37, is slightly rotated by the upward swing of roller 3%,. which on the 1 sheets which are led thereto.

top of the stack at the rear of the main shaft, as shown in Figs. 2 and 16' to 20 inclusive. Such slight upward movement affords a sutlicient downward swing or the crank arm 4 .0, to elevate the ratchet segment is, by the engagement of the ll, on said crank" arm on the extended arm of the lin'lr or toy; gle bar at, on which said ratchet segment is operated. li' suiiicient for one of the teeth.-

on said ratchet segment be projected even cyfi slightly in the path oi: the pawl, the pawl engaging the same, swings said segment bar upwardly and rearwardly, thereby elevating the pawl wholly above the "atcheted periphery oi the bevel gear 9, preventing; the upward feed of the table for at least one or 4 more impulses of the pawl, as required, or until a sheet'or sheets have been removed from the top of the stack to permit the parts to return to normal.

course, it is to be understood that very niany details of construction and operation may be varied, without departing from the principles of this invention, for I have shown and described but one (and that a preferred) construction, and While a printin;; has been mentioned in the specification as a machine to which the sheet may be fed, it to be understood that a sheet feeding; machine such as described, may be employedin connection with any appropriate receiving machine dependent, of course, upon the purpose and character of use of the it therefore do' not purpose limiting the patent to be granted on this application otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim my invention:

l. In a device of the class described a frame, a sheet supporting table movable thereon, mechanism for elevating said table in said frame, adjustable pawl and ratchet means for gaging the upward movement of said table, and a ratchet segment pivoted adjacent said pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to be engaged by said pawl and lift the pawl over said first mentioned ratchet when the table is elevated beyond predetermined point.

2, .ln a device of the class described sheet feeding mechanism comprising av rotatable dish, a plurality of spring actuated friction lid members mounted rad'illy in said disk,

adapted to contact successively arr upper sheet to be ied thereby, a friction clement mounted on said disk adapted to contact and eject said upper sheet, and means coiiperating with said rotatable dish to maintain the uppermost of said sheets in stepped relation. in a device of the class described means for elevating and supporting: a steel; of sheets, a plurality of rotatable dislts mounted thereabove, spring; actuated. oresser elernents mounted in said disks adapted tocoir lSli to break the vacuum thereunder, a friction element mounted on said disks adapted to contact said uppermost; sheet immediately aftersaid pressure elements to eject the sheets. and resilient means for maintaining the uppermost sheets of said stack in stepped relation.

4. Sheet feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable element, spring thrust means therein adapted to contact an uppermost sheet successively to break the vacuum thereunder, a friction element mounted on said rotatable element to ejectsaid sheet, and parallel resilient fingers rigidly secured at their ends and inclined to maintain the uppermost sheets of a stack in stepped relation.

In a machine of the class described rotative adjustable disks, resilient spring thrust pressers therein adapted to successively contact the same sheet and break the vacuum therebeneath before removal thereof, an ejecting element also mounted upon each of said adjustable disks, and means cooperating with said pressing and ejecting elements to maintain the uppermost sheet in stepped relation.

In a device of the class described a plurality of rotatable disks, having radial recesses therein, resilient presser elements mounted in said recesses, springs normally thrusting the same outwardly, a pin engaged in a slot in each of said presser elements to limit the movement thereof, and a friction ejecting element mounted on said disks adapted to contact a sheet after the successive contacts of the presser elements.

In a machine of the class described adjustable feed stack. carrying mechanism, a double pivoted ratchet segment adjacent said adjustable feed-mechanism, and means 0perated from the top of said stack on said carrying mechanism to throw said segments into operation and disconnect the drive from the adjustable feed mechanism.

8. In a machine of the class described a frame, a table slidable therein, chains su porting and adapted to elevate said tab e throw said pawl out of engagement 'With' said first mentioned ratchet when the table exceeds a certain predetermined height.

9. In a machine of the class described a frame, a stack carrying table, ratchet drift ing means to elevate the same and governor mechanism therefor comprising a shaft our naled in the frame, arms thereon. one a apted to rest on the top of the stack, a ratchet segment linked adjacent said ratchet driving means, and the other of said arms adapted to shift said segment to cause disenga ement of said ratchet driving means when t e stack is elevated beyond normal.

10. In a machine of the class described elevating and ejecting mechanisms, a ratchet connected to said elevating mechanism, a pawl driving the same, and a governor comprising an arm adapted to be actuated by a.

stack on said elevating mechanism, a ratchet segment linked adjacent said ratchet and adapted to be moved to a position to be engaged by said pawl, whereupon further movement of said pawl raises the same out of engagement with pawl engages said segment.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NELS ANDERSON. Witnesses CHARLES WV. Hints, Jr, LAWRENCE Rnrnsrnm.

said ratchet as said 

